Building designs and heating and cooling systems

ABSTRACT

Building heating and/or cooling methods of the present disclosure can include continuously distributing fluid from within conduits within a concrete floor of a building to conduits within grounds surrounding and/or supporting the building.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/418,436 filed Jan. 27, 2017, entitled “Building Designs andHeating and Cooling Systems”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/144,576 filed May 2, 2016, entitled“Building Designs and Heating and Cooling Systems”, now U.S. Pat. No.9,964,338 issued May 8, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/163,455 which was filed on Jun. 27, 2008,entitled “Building Designs and Heating and Cooling Systems”, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,328,932 issued on May 3, 2016, which claims priority to U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/937,335 which was filed Jun.27, 2007, entitled “Building Designs and Heating and Cooling Systems”,the entirety of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of atmospheremodification systems and more specifically to the area of buildingheating and/or cooling systems as well as building designs.

BACKGROUND

Energy for use in heating and cooling buildings has become expensive toconsume as well as environmentally difficult to generate. Whetheroccupants rely on gas, electric, or even solid fuel to heat and/or cooltheir buildings, the cost of these energy sources is not decreasing, andutilizing each of these sources has environmental impacts unique to eachsource. For example, electricity is manufactured utilizing coal in mostcases or via hydro turbines. The burning of the coal can adverselyimpact the atmosphere, and the hydro turbines have been recognized toadversely impact fish populations. It would be beneficial to requireless energy from these sources to maintain a building at a comfortabletemperature during both cold winter months and hot summer months aswell. The present disclosure provides both heating and cooling systems.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Building heating and/or cooling methods are provided that can includecontinuously distributing fluid from within conduits within a concretefloor of a building to conduits within grounds surrounding and/orsupporting the building.

Building heating/cooling systems are provided that can include: abuilding comprising walls and concrete floors; fluid containing conduitwithin the concrete floors; circulating fluid within the conduit; aleast one dehumidifier operatively associated within the building andconfigured to maintain a desired humidity within the building; andprocessing circuitry operatively coupled to fluid circulation controlsand the dehumidifier.

Building constructions are provided that can include at least onesubfloor above grounds supporting the building, and interior conduitsextending through the one subfloor and configured to convey a fluid,with exterior conduits extending through the grounds and configured toconvey the fluid; and a control system operable to couple the interiorand exterior conduits

Building heating and/or cooling methods are provided that can includedistributing fluid from within a building to grounds surrounding and/orsupporting the building and returning the fluid to the building. Themethods can also include after returning the fluid to the building,exposing the fluid to a subfloor of the building to regulate atemperature of the subfloor.

Heating and/or cooling systems are also provided that can include acontrol system operably associated with a wall of a building and coupledto both interior and exterior conduits, with the interior conduitsconfigured to extend to within a mass of the building and the exteriorconduits configured to extend to within grounds proximate the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the disclosure are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a building construction according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1B is a heat exchanger according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 1C is a control component and dehumidifier alignment for use in thesystems and methods of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1D is a control component, dehumidifier, and heat exchangeralignment for use in the systems and methods of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1E is a dehumidifier and heat exchanger alignment for use in thesystems and methods of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a building construction according to another embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is an overview of a building construction in the context of aplot plan according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a building construction in context of a plot plan according toanother embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a system for use by building construction according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is another view of the system of FIG. 5 according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a system for use in a building construction according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is another view of the system of FIG. 7 according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure is submitted in furtherance of the constitutionalpurposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science anduseful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

The present disclosure provides building constructions and systems forcontrolling the interior temperature of these building constructions.The constructions and systems, according to embodiments, reduce airbornedust and mites by up to 90% air exchange by heat reclaiming units suchas air to air heat exchangers, with CO₂ monitors, for example. Accordingto other embodiments, there is no moisture absorption to encourage thegrowth of mold or smut spores; there are no chemicals to cause allergicreactions in sensitive people; there is no continuous circulation ofairborne viruses such as that which causes Legionnaires Disease; and theconstruction and systems exceed health house guidelines of the AmericanLung Association. According to other embodiments, the constructions andsystems within the constructions make the building envelope orconstruction envelope nearly soundproof and airtight. According toexample implementations in museums, safe rooms, and computer rooms,there is no humidity to affect priceless or irreplaceable artifacts,valuables, or delicate electronic equipment.

According to another embodiment, constructions and systems have an over200 year lifespan with little maintenance requirements; the system canuse up to 60% less fuel than forced air heating and cooling; little tono environmental energy is required for summer cooling; and according toadditional example embodiments, the systems meet all qualifications forenergy aid programs (Form 70 A) and make lower mortgages possiblebecause of the energy saving rating. According to additional exampleimplementations, there can be zero carbon dioxide emissions through theuse of cooling and around 50% less for heating than other heating andcooling systems available today with no contaminants. Once emitted fromthe systems, water can be used for decorative water features such asponds and fountains or recycled for irrigation.

The constructions and systems will be described with reference to FIGS.1A-8. Referring to FIG. 1A, a building construction 10 is shown overgrounds 12 supporting the building construction. Construction 10includes envelope or exterior walls 14 over foundation 16. In connectionwith or running between, above, or as part of foundation 16 is flooring18 which may be considered a subfloor. Envelope 14 can be any envelopeand can include wood construction as well as masonry construction oreven steel construction. Foundation 16 as stated above can be part of orcombined with floor section 18. However, in example constructions,foundation 16 is an above-ground or perhaps even a basementconstruction.

Subfloor 18 can be a slab construction or a flooring construction.However, in specific embodiments, subfloor 18 is a slab construction ofat least 2 inches of thickness, but can be as thick as 4 inches orgreater, with 2-4 inches being preferred. Subfloor 18 can be constructedof concrete, for example. Buildings can be configured with multiplesubfloors. For example, subfloors located on every level of the buildingand any or all of these subfloors can be constructed of concrete orother high mass building material. As another example, one subfloor canbe located elevationally above another subfloor.

According to example implementations, construction 10 can include highmass areas such as floors and walls. These high mass areas can beutilized to store heat or cold that can be utilized later to heat orcool the building. For example, foundation 16 can be constructed ofconcrete and the concrete of the floor can be cooled throughout a hotsummer evening during non-peak kilowatt hours. During the heat of theday, the high mass foundation assists in cooling the house during peakkilowatt hours. During winter months, the high mass foundation can beheated during the evening and the heat of the high mass foundation usedto heat the home during peak kilowatt hours of the day.

Construction 10 also includes a control system 20 that is coupled tointerior lines (conduits) 22 and exterior lines (conduits) 24. Controlsystem 20 can be operable to couple these interior and exteriorconduits. Interior lines 22 and exterior lines 24 both have respectivereturn and outgoing lines. For example, interior lines 22 include areturn line 22 A and an outgoing line 22 B. Exterior lines 24 include areturn line 24 A and an outgoing line 24 B. Control system 20 controlsthe return and the outgoing flows of these lines.

The lines themselves are conduits. The conduits are configured toprovide a fluid, typically a liquid fluid, within the sub floor portion18 and returning through control system 20, and then to exterior,preferably within the grounds 12 via outgoing lines 24. According toexample implementations, the interior conduits can extend through theone subfloor and be configured to convey fluid. The interior conduitscan also be at least partially encased in concrete of a subfloor.According to other implementations, a majority of the interior conduitscan be encased in the concrete of the subfloor. Where multiple subfloorsare utilized the interior conduits can extend through one, a number of,or all of the subfloors.

The fluid itself that is contained within these lines is preferablywater but can also be other fluids, including glycols, for example.Where water is utilized, the fluid can be treated with a disinfectant ornot treated with a disinfectant.

The exterior conduits can extend through the grounds and can beconfigured to convey the fluid between and/or through the control unitand/or interior conduits. Substantially all or a majority of theexterior conduits can be encased in the grounds surrounding and/orsupporting the building. In accordance with example implementations thebuilding can be a commercial building and the exterior conduits canextend through the grounds supporting a parking lot associated with thecommercial building. In accordance with other implementations, thebuilding can be a multi-family unit with individual units of thebuilding sharing common walls and/or grounds. The exterior conduits cantraverse the common wall and/or grounds, for example.

In accordance with the systems, heating/cooling can include distributingfluid from within a building to grounds surrounding and/or supportingthe building and returning the fluid to the building. After returningthe fluid to the building, the fluid can be exposed to a subfloor of thebuilding to regulate a temperature of the subfloor.

Control system 20 can be configured to seasonally control the flow offluid from within conduits 22 and 24 based on temperature requirementswithin building construction 10. For example, during winter months,fluid can be provided from within floor construction 18 through controlsystem 20 and out to ground loop 26. This flow can continue on ayear-long basis and as such provides an ambient temperature that is moreconsistent with the temperature of the ground region below the home orin the surrounding grounds of the home. For example, in the wintermonths, while the exterior of the home may be in the 40° Fahrenheit orlower range, the interior slab portion will be more proximately in thesubterranean range of 50° F. to 60° F., a significant increase intemperature of 10° F. to 20° F.; as such, when this fluid is providedfrom ground loop 26 to within slab 18, this warmer fluid can warm thehouse to at least a 10° F. to 15° F. change, thus requiring less of aninterior heat source to heat the home. In the summer months, likewisethe slab can be cooled to approximately 50° F. to 60° F. while theexterior of the home is in the 80° F. to 90° F. range. As such, there isa significant change, approximately 20° F. to 30° F. between the floor18 temperature within the home and that temperature outside the home, atthe same time requiring less energy to cool the home. According toexample implementations, fluid, such as water, can be provided fromeither or both of the interior or exterior conduits to a sprinklersystem associated with the grounds surrounding and/or supporting thebuilding.

In accordance with example embodiments, perimeter 14 or envelope 14 canhave walls that are insulated to at least R24 or higher. Perimeter 14can also have less than 30% window area with a U rating of 0.333 orless. According to an example embodiment, floor 18 can also have atleast 2″ of insulation to an R10 rating. Above floors there can also bean R5 rating. Perimeter 14 can include a ceiling insulated to R50 orhigher, for example.

The building can also have attic/ceiling fans. The fans can beconfigured to remove hot air from the building during summer months andmaintain warmer air in the building during winter months, for example.

The building heating/cooling system 10 can also include at least oneheat exchanger 102 that is operatively engaged with control system 20 aswell as additional controls 104. In accordance with exampleimplementations the heat exchanger can be an air to air heat exchangerand/or a liquid to air heat exchanger. With the liquid to air heatexchanger, the liquid can be associated with the liquid that circulatesthrough the concrete. In this configuration, air can be exchangedbetween the outside of the building and the inside of the building overa coil containing liquid that may include the liquid circulating in theconcrete, a separate liquid, or a gas, such as a refrigerant forexample.

In accordance with additional implementations, system 10 can include adehumidifier 105. This dehumidifier can be controlled by additionalcontrols 104 to engage when humidity reaches a predetermined thresholdlevel and/or operatively coupled with a CO₂ detector 107. Example levelsrequiring the engagement of dehumidification can be but are not limitedto 50% or an engagement of dehumidification when the humidity is 55%.Conversely, humidifiers can be engaged when the humidity is as low as40%.

In accordance with example configurations, dehumidifier 105 may notoperatively engage the fluid control system 20 to utilize fluid fromsystem 20 for dehumidification operations.

In the air to air configuration, FIG. 1B depicts an example embodimentof at least one heat exchanger that includes intakes 106 and 108, aswell as outlets 110 and 112. Air from each of the outlets can pass overcores 114 and 115 respectively that are thermally conductive materialsuch as aluminum for example. This transfer can be facilitated with atleast two motorized fans and both air paths can proceed through filters.

The heat exchangers can include drain pans to facilitate the collectionof moisture through loss of water from exchanged air. The heat exchangercan be operatively associated with building ducting and/or associatedwith an opening in the building envelope.

In accordance with example implementations, the heat exchanger can beused in concert with the building temperature control using thecirculating fluid in the concrete to reduce humidity in the buildingand/or exchange high CO₂ air with fresh air with minimal temperaturechange inside the building.

In accordance with additional configurations and with reference to FIG.1C, dehumidifier 105 can be in fluid communication with system 20. Asshown fluid 24 a can be provided to dehumidifier 105 and returned tosystem 20 as fluid 22 b. In this configuration, fluid within system 20that is circulated between the concrete floors and the exterior groundscan be used to dehumidify the dwelling if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 1D and 1 n accordance with yet another configurationof system 20, heat exchanger 104, dehumidifier 105 and system 20 can bealigned as shown. Accordingly, fluid 22 a can be received from thedwelling flooring and provided to the exterior grounds of the dwellingfor cooling, 24 b. Fluid 24 a can be returned to system 20 and thenprovided to dehumidifier 105 for use in dehumidification. Fluid 22 b canbe provided after use in dehumidification to system 20 and then providedto the flooring of the dwelling before returning as fluid 22 a.

In accordance with example implementations, air 111 may be received fromheat exchanger 104 by dehumidifier 105 and then provided to the dwellingas 117. This configuration may take place when air is replaced in thedwelling, for example to compensate for a high CO₂ detection. Inaccordance with another configuration, air 113 may be received fromwithin the dwelling by dehumidifier 105 to dehumidify dwelling airwithout exchanging air with the exterior of the dwelling. Accordingly,CO₂ detector 107 can work in concert with control unit 104 as well assystem 20 to facilitate the desired flow of air through dehumidifier 105as desired.

In accordance with an additional implementation of the disclosure, FIG.1E depicts a configuration of the heat exchanger and dehumidifier.

Turning now to FIG. 2, another exemplary embodiment of construction 10is shown. As the example depiction of FIG. 2 indicates, construction 10can have at least two floors, 18A and 18B. Floors 18A and 18B can haveconduits 22 extending therethrough. As depicted, conduits 22 can extendfrom control system 20 to floor 18A as well as floor 18B, therebycirculating fluid from intake of 24A throughout the flooring ofconstruction 10. According to an example implementation, control system20 may be able to regulate the flow of fluid within conduits 22 to floor18B as opposed to 18A depending on the temperature requirements of thehome. For example, in the summer months, more of the fluid received from24A can be provided to the upper floors of construction 10 rather thanthe lower floors, for example, 18B and 18A. As also shown in FIG. 2,conduits 24B and 24A extend in opposing directions within ground 12.This, for example, is an indication that conduits 24A and 24B do notnecessarily need to extend directly below construction 10. Theseconduits can extend laterally from construction 10 to subsurface regionsbeyond subsurface 10.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary plot plan 30 is shown that includes abuilding 10 situated on a plot having, for example, parking designations32 proximate thereto. As depicted, building 10 can have a control system20 therein with conduits 22 extending therein. The conduits 22 canextend to slab or floor constructions not shown at many levels ofbuilding 10, or to only single levels of building 10, depending ondesign choice. Conduits 24 can extend from control system 20 and towithin the ground below parking designations 32. According to exampleimplementations, providing fluid to this mass of conduits underneathparking designation 32 can allow for the cooling and/or warming ofbuilding 10.

Referring to FIG. 4 according to another implementation, plot 40 isshown having multiple buildings 42, 44, 46, and 48 placed thereon. Thesemultiple buildings can have individual system controls or can have asingle system control as shown, for example. Conduits 22 and 24 can beconfigured to take advantage of the space in and around these individualunits. According to an exemplary implementation, conduits 22 can extendthroughout and actually join individual units 42, 44, 46 and 48. As anexample, this kind of uniform ambient heating can be utilized to lowerthe energy costs of each of these units rather than requiring each ofthe units to have individual system controls. According to exemplaryimplementations, individual system controls can be utilized; however,additional ground coils 24 would be required. As shown in plot 40,ground coils 24 can extend through the front and around the perimeter ofbuildings 42, 44, 46 and 48.

Referring to FIG. 5, an example system 20 is shown. As shown in FIG. 5,system 20 has the various portions of system 20 labeled as exampledesignations. By no means should these example designations be inferredto limit the configuration of system 20 to the systems as shown. Otherimplementations of the control of fluids throughout the interior ofconstruction 10 as well as throughout the ground portions underneath andsurrounding construction 10 can be utilized. As an example, system 20may have a system supply loop that is coupled into a 3-way control valvemotor driven on cooling; opening will be from the branch to the tank; a119 gallon water heater tank can be hooked to this system as well as an80 gallon buffer tank. As an example, water is utilized with system 20,and this fluid can be circulated using a water to water heat pump. Toincrease the temperature of the fluid, in this example water, as itreturns through to heat the house in the winter months, for example, a12 KW electric boiler can be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 6, system 20 is outlined as configured in an exemplarycontrol room. The control room as stated above can include a watersoftener as well as, if desired, water service, water heater, buffertank, and heat source heat pump as described previously. This can alsobe referred to as the mechanical room.

Referring to FIG. 7, an additional exemplary implementation of controlsystem 20 is given as control system 70. As shown, control system 70 canhave a water heater and a water filter coupled to one another, a waterpressure reducing valve for incoming water, and this can be utilized toheat or control the incoming fluid from the ground lines. Likewise,another view of system 70 is given in FIG. 8 as a landscaped view of thesystem as it is configured within a control room. According to exemplaryimplementations, the fluid within lines 24 and 22 of the presentdisclosure can be utilized to provide an ambient temperature withinconstruction 10. At specified points within a seasonal use of thissystem, water may be preferred, as the water can be drained from thesystem and replaced quite easily. The tubing itself utilized can be ofcopper, steel, Rehau, or other cross-linked construction.

In compliance with the statute, embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural andmethodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the entireinvention is not limited to the specific features and/or embodimentsshown and/or described, since the disclosed embodiments comprise formsof putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore,claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope ofthe appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with thedoctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A building heating and/or cooling methodcomprising continuously distributing fluid from within conduits within aconcrete floor of a building to conduits within grounds surroundingand/or supporting the building while dehumidifying the interior of thebuilding via a dehumidifier.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein thebuilding is a commercial building and the grounds are a parking lotproximate the commercial building.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thefluid is water.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the method furthercomprises periodically distributing the water via a sprinkler system. 5.The method of claim 1 wherein the building is a multi-family housingunit.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the fluid is distributed togrounds surrounding the unit and exposed to the concrete floors ofindividual units within the housing unit.
 7. The method of claim 5wherein at least some of the units have associated grounds and share acommon wall.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the building is acommercial building and the grounds are a parking lot proximate thecommercial building and covered by asphalt and/or concrete.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the conduits are 1″ in diameter.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the conduit is tubing constructed of copper,steel, Rehau, and/or other cross-linked construction.
 11. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the concrete floor is a minimum of 2″ thickness.
 12. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising utilizing a plurality ofdirectional and/or check valves to control the direction of flow of thefluid within the conduits.